As a Toronto Real Estate Agent, I am often asked about the high cost of maintenance fees in the condo buildings throughout the city. Some of you may not know, but Toronto does have some environmentally friendly buildings that help offset the building’s monthly maintenance fees!
Green Condo Buildings in Toronto
When it comes to environmental responsibility and sustainability, everyone can do something to contribute. Whether you upcycle vintage furniture, recycle household waste, or compost; every bit of effort counts in showing love to our planet. But, did you know that buildings can also help save our environment? An eco-friendly or green condo can help reduce your carbon footprint and make you feel good about your home. Toronto Real Estate offers many eco-friendly, LEED-certified condo building options that we can explore below.
What is a LEED Certification?
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is an internationally known green building certification program. It was founded in 1993 by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED is dedicated to sustainability, reducing waste and carbon emissions, conservation of energy and saving water when it comes to the design and construction of buildings.
LEED certification assigns points in the following six areas:
- Location and Transportation
- Energy Efficiency
- Sustainable Site Development
- Materials Selection
- Water Savings
- Indoor Environmental Quality
A building can earn one of four rating levels based on how many points it achieves in the above 6 areas. The LEED rating levels include:
- Platinum: Over 80 points
- Gold: 60-79 points
- Silver: 50-59 points
- Certified: 40-49 points
LEED Certified Condos in Toronto
As a Toronto real estate agent, it’s clear that clients have a variety of wants and needs when they are looking to rent or buy a home. It is becoming increasingly popular to search for a condo that is LEED-certified in the city. But, how can clients determine which buildings are LEED/eco-friendly? Let’s explore some great options below!
Aqualina Condos at Bayside
This condo building is located on Toronto’s Harbourfront and boasts 362 suites and is 12 storeys. The building was the first to receive a LEED Platinum certification. With solar panels on the roof and tons of features that promote the improvement of indoor air quality and energy efficiency, this building is very dedicated to sustainable living.
Additionally, this building is prime Toronto real estate as it is conveniently located near the city’s main landmarks including the CN Tower, Scotiabank Arena, Rogers Centre, St. Lawrence Market, and more. It is also close to restaurants, stores, public transit, and the Toronto Islands.
Minto 30 Roehampton
This building is located in the heart of Yonge and Eglinton, situated near nightlife, restaurants, shopping, and public transportation. It is a 34-storey building with 397 units that is LEED Gold certified.
Minto 30 promotes a green lifestyle by offering a variety of green amenities such as charging stations for electric vehicles, rainwater harvesting, updated window panes, a green roof, and a bike-sharing program.
Minto 775
Minto 775 is located in King West and is LEED Gold certified. The building consists of two towers that are 12 storeys and 17 storeys respectively. There are many energy-saving components in the building such as a green roof that assists with keeping the building cool, efficient dual flush toilets, energy-efficient appliances, and a harvesting system for rainwater. If you are interested in bike sharing or car sharing, the building also offers these programs.
The Berczy
This 12-storey property at 55 Front Street East has 166 units and is LEED Gold certified. The building is close to St Lawrence Market and boasts a ton of features that make it eco-friendly. The building was constructed using recycled materials and electrical features that are energy efficient. Every unit has energy-efficient heating and cooling and the roof of the building is a green roof which assists in maintaining the temperature of the building.
One Cole Condos
This condo building is located in the Regent Park neighbourhood and has a LEED Gold certification. There are 293 units in this 19-storey building and beautiful eco-friendly features such as a natural plant living wall, individual gardening plots for residents, and a rooftop garden. Each unit contains energy-efficient appliances and heat recovery vents.
Quantum Towers
Quantum North and South Towers are located in the Yonge and Eglinton area and both have LEED Gold certification. The South Tower is 38 storeys with 334 units and the North Tower has 556 units and is 53 storeys. Each building has energy-efficient appliances, efficient cooling and heating systems, LED lighting on the exterior and motion-sensor lights lining the hallways.
M5V Condos
Located in the trendy King West neighbourhood, M5V Condos is a 34-storey building with 305 units. These condos are LEED Gold certified and were built with eco-friendly materials. Each suite has an energy recycling system and there is a green roof that helps regulate the condos’ temperatures. The finishes of these condos are ultra modern with hardwood floors, granite counters, and stainless steel appliances. A mechanical room was built in the middle of the building that assists with efficiently utilizing energy.
If you are interested in doing your part to reduce your carbon footprint, you may want to consider investing in eco-friendly Toronto real estate. Talk to your agent today about going green in one of these LEED-certified condos. Feel free to reach out for more information from one of our expert realtors!
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LEED
https://www.cagbc.org/our-work/certification/leed/
https://strata.ca/blog/torontos-best-eco-friendly-condos
